Dorothy Garlock (20 page)

“I’d better go,” Tess said and pulled back when Jack held the door for the ladies to go into the house.

“Oh, no,” Annabel exclaimed. “Stay a little longer. Boone will walk you back home. Won’t you, Boone?”

“Sure. As long as yo’re here, ya might as well stay awhile.” His hand on her back urged her into the house.

Carrying the lamp, Annabel led the way to the front room. Tess held back to allow Jack and Corbin to pass with the kitchen chairs.

“I can’t let you walk me back,” she whispered. “Marvin’s…waiting at the edge of the wood.”

“What’s he wantin’ to know?”

“If Mr. Appleby’s courting Annabel. Marvin calls her
his
girl.”

“Bullfoot! He sent ya over here to find out that?”

“I ought to go.”

“Ya’ve been here this long, it’ll not hurt if ya stay a little longer.”

“He’s drunk and…kind of crazy.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll think of somethin’.”

Boone was aware that Corbin, looking over his shoulder, saw that he and Tess were exchanging whispered words and kept himself between them and Annabel. Boone guided Tess ahead of him into the living room and toward a chair. His black eyes darted a glance at Corbin, and he was relieved to see that he had eyes only for the girl getting her beloved violin out of the case.

Marvin Carter was right. Corbin Appleby had come courting Annabel. Well, hell. He wasn’t a bad sort. He just got under Boone’s skin at times.

“She really plays pretty. She can play most anything on that fiddle: waltzes and funeral songs—”

“Funeral songs! Jack Jones, I’ve never played funeral music, and this
violin
is not a
fiddle
.” Annabel playfully tapped him on the head with her bow, then put it to the strings and played “Little Brown Jug.”

At the proper time, Jack began to clap and sing.

“Ha, ha, ha, you and me. Little brown jug
don’t I love thee—”

Soon Corbin was clapping with him and Annabel’s foot was keeping time to the music as she played. When the song ended, she removed the violin from beneath her chin.

“That was fun!” Her green eyes were sparkling. Corbin was fascinated. “I’ll play something more soothing. Later I’ll play Jack’s favorite.”

“What’s that?” Corbin asked.

“You’ll see.”

She swayed as she played two Irish melodies: “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” and “Danny Boy.” The music was hauntingly beautiful. The four people listening sat breathlessly still.

“Those two songs are my father’s favorites…naturally, as he’s Irish.” She laughed a little. “Boone likes western ballads. These are his favorites.” She played the medley: “Red River Valley,” “Strawberry Roan” and “The Wide Missouri.”

The entrancing music filled the room and spilled out into the night, where Marvin Carter sat hunched down beside the window. He burned with resentment that he had to squat outside the window to listen, while the bastard that had hit him was in there sitting on one of the fancy chairs. He slunk away, his head filled with plans to get even.

Annabel closed her eyes and played as if she were off in another world. Corbin was amazed; not so much that she played beautifully, but because there was not a sheet of music in sight. She played from memory and because she loved it.
She is an extraordinary woman,
he thought.
A jewel, a treasure.

When she finished the medley and opened her eyes, they dwelled on Corbin. She took a few deep breaths and let the arm holding the bow fall to her side.

“What type of music do you like?”

“All types.”

“How about this?”

He smiled and she put the bow to the strings and began to play “Sweet Georgia Brown.” When she finished, they laughed. Eyes still holding, she began to play “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” Sure that none here knew the words, she poured her heart into the music; and when she finished, her cheeks were flushed.

“Do you have a favorite, Tess?”

Tess came out of her trance-like state and shook her head. She had been to musicales while she was in school and thought that she never again would be privileged to hear such music. She wanted to cry. She wanted to crawl under the bed and stay here forever.

“I’ll play “Indian Love Call” for you, and then Jack’s favorite.”

Corbin was enchanted. She had been playing for almost an hour. He glanced at Boone from time to time when he could take his eyes off Annabel. The man had something on his mind besides music. He hadn’t uttered one gruff remark since Tess Carter had arrived.

When she finished, Annabel let her tired arm swing at her side and spoke to Jack. “I’ll play the lead-in, and then sing out.” She played a few bars of a recognized tune, then lifted her chin. “Now, Jack.”

To Corbin’s amazement, Jack stood beside Annabel and sang in a surprisingly good voice.

“Listen to the jingle, the rumble and the roar,
Riding through the woodlands,
to the hill, and by the shore.
Hear the mighty rush of engines,
Hear the lone-some ho-bo squall.
Riding through the jungles on the Wabash Cannonball.”

Jack sang several verses and seemed to be totally at ease and enjoying himself. Annabel’s fingers worked the strings on the violin while the bow caressed them. She tapped her foot on the floor in time with the music. Corbin realized the two of them had done this before and thought what a great thing it was for the boy to have found this place when he was sick and needed help.

When the song ended, Corbin clapped his hands. “The two of you should get a job on the stage.”

Jack, with a wide grin on his face, took a bow. “Didn’t I tell you she could play? The night I was sick and lyin’ down by the road, I heard the music and at first I thought I had died.” Jack’s voice quavered a little, remembering.

Annabel laughed. “We could perform on the street corner, Jack, and you could pass the hat.” She carefully wiped the violin with a soft cloth and put it in the case.

“I’ve got to go. Thank…you…” Tess headed for the back door. Annabel hurried after her.

“I’m glad you came over. I’ll be moving away soon.”

Tess’s amber eyes flew to Boone. “I…guess I’ll not see you again,” she said to Annabel.

“You can come over again…or I could come see you before I go.”

“Oh, no! Ah…sometimes I’m not there. I had a good time. ’Bye.” She darted out the back door.

Boone grabbed Tess’s arm. “Annabel,” he said over his shoulder, “stay close to Jack and Appleby till I get back.”

“Mr. Boone!” Tess whispered urgently after they stepped off the porch. “Let me go. Marvin could be right around the corner…listening.”

“Be back in a little while,” Boone called, should Marvin be nearby. “I’ll walk Miss Carter part of the way home.”

“What’ll I tell him?” Tess whispered.

“Tell him Appleby came to see me and Jack.”

“When is she going away? I wish it was tomorrow.”

“Why is that?”

“’Cause…Marvin won’t give up till he’s…ruined her.”

“Bastard,” Boone gritted between clenched teeth.

They fell silent as they neared the woods. Tess’s eyes searched for her brother but saw no sign of him.

“He was going to wait.”

“Where?”

“Over there.”

Boone’s eyes followed her pointed finger. His night vision was exceptionally good. “He isn’t there, Tess.” He reached for Tess’s hand and pulled her to him.

She twisted away. “He’s around here somewhere,” she whispered.

“I’ll walk you home,” he said in a conversational tone. “Annabel is by herself. I shouldn’t be gone too long.”

“Ah…”

He squeezed Tess’s hand and steered her off the path into the bushes, where he would have a clear view of the area between the woods and the house. He drew her close to him and whispered in her ear.

“If he’s here, he may hotfoot it over to the house. We’ll wait and see.”

“If he heard you, he’ll go and fight Mr. Appleby.”

“Appleby can take care of himself. And I’d be right behind him.” Boone settled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Now tell me, are they treatin’ ya all right?”

“I’ve been all right.”

“I came lookin’ for ya the last two nights.”

“I couldn’t come out. Marvin is on a tear. He talks about getting even with the man who pushed him off the road and the one who hit him. He tells Leroy and Bud what he’s going to do to…Annabel. Nasty things. Take her away from here,” Tess pleaded.

“Don’t worry. Annabel and her pa will be leaving soon. Meanwhile, I’ll watch her every minute.”

“Marvin will find a way. He’s got the rest of the Carters helping him.”

“They stole the horses, didn’t they?”

“How’d you know that?”

“The fence was cut. Horses don’t cut fences and walk away.”

“He told me not to tell you.”

“Ya didn’t tell me. Tomorrow I’ll discover they’re gone and in a day or two go in and report it to the sheriff.”

“Watch the cow. She’ll be next.”

“Tess…” He turned her around in his arms. She went to him willingly and placed her head on his shoulder. “I’ll not be able to stay here now, even if Donovan would sell the place to me. There would always be trouble between me and the Carters.”

“They don’t trust anyone that isn’t kin.”

“Could
you
trust me? We haven’t met but a few times and never out in the open. When I leave here, will you go away with me?” He spoke with his lips close to her ear.

Rigid with surprise, Tess pulled away from his warm strength.
Go away with me.
A man like Boone wouldn’t ever consider marrying a woman like her. He just wanted her to go away with him. He’d not use her rough like Cousin Willard had done, but he’d use her.

“You don’t know anything about me. You’d be ashamed…after a while.” She choked back the sobs that rose in her throat. “And…they’d come get me. I’ve got to stay and…pay—”

“Pay for what?” Boone peered down into her face.

Realizing she’d said more than she should, Tess hid her face against his chest, her mind searching for a plausible answer.

“Pay for what, Tess?” Boone insisted.

“For…my keep.” She whispered the lie, praying that he would believe it.

“Ah…sweet girl.” Emotion flooded Boone’s heart like none he had felt before. He hugged her tightly to him and kissed the top of her head. He silently vowed that if this golden girl who had seeped into his heart would come with him, he would love and protect her for as long as he lived.

Love.
The word had just popped into his mind. He’d not even thought the word before. Love was a new word for him. But, by God, he loved her!

“I want to take care of you. We can go where they can’t find you. Tess, look at me.” He put his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face. “You don’t have to care for me, but trust me to take care of you.” He put his mouth gently on hers and kissed her. “I want to keep you with me. I’ve been alone for a long time.”

“You’ve had Annabel.”

“Annabel isn’t mine. She’ll marry someday and have a family. I’ll be like an…uncle. Appleby is smitten. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. He’d not be a bad choice for her, but her pa would never allow it.”

“So he
is
courting her.”

“I think he wants to. Will you tell your brother?”

“No. I’m afraid he’d waylay him and hurt him.”

“He might just meet his match. Appleby bested him once.”

“Yes, he’s the one who hit Marvin on the knee.”

“He knocked his feet right out from under him.” Boone nuzzled his face in her hair. “Marvin hasn’t showed himself. Can ya stay awhile longer?”

“For a while. But Annabel…”

“It’ll give Appleby an excuse to stay. He won’t go until I get back. I want to hold you and kiss you, sweet woman. I was worried sick when you didn’t come out last night.”

Jack had brought the lamp to the kitchen table and now sat straddling a chair.

“It’s strange that she’d walk over here in the dark.” Annabel turned back from the door with a puzzled look on her face. Her eyes went to Corbin, who stood in the doorway.

“Her brothers may have sent her over thinking Boone would walk her back through the woods and give them a chance to jump him.”

“I thought of that.”

“Would you feel better if I went out and looked around?”

“I can do it. I know the lay of the land,” Jack said, getting to his feet.“I’ll take the gun and go out the back door of the barn and snoop around over by the woods. If there’s any trouble, I’ll fire off a couple of quick shots.”

Annabel went to the kitchen cabinet and took a small pistol off the top shelf. She checked to be sure it was loaded, then handed it to Jack.

“Be careful, Jack.”

Jack tucked the pistol in his belt. “Stay close to her, Corbin,” the boy said seriously. “Boone always told me not to let her go into another room by herself. He doesn’t trust the Carters at all.”

Corbin’s eyes left Jack, caught and held Annabel’s.

“Trust me, Jack. It’ll be the most pleasurable chore I’ve had in a long time.”

“For goodness’ sake!” Annabel sputtered, color coming up her neck to spread across her face. “Be careful and don’t shoot yourself,” she cautioned as the boy went out the door. She stared out into the darkness for a moment, wondering what she was going to say when she turned around.

Corbin filled in the void. “Shall we blow out the lamp?” he asked with a chuckle.

“I don’t think we have to go that far. You probably never intended to stay this long when you came out to see Jack. I’m sorry you got…stuck…here with me,” she finished in a rush.

“I’m thinking I’m damn lucky. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get you out from under Boone’s watchful eyes so we could get to know each other. The chance fell right into my lap.”

“Well, for goodness’ sake.” She didn’t know what else to say.

“Let’s sit in the swing on the porch. If someone is coming at me, I want to see him coming.”

Annabel turned out the lamp and led the way through the house to the porch.

“Will you be warm enough? It’s cool at night this close to the river.”

“I think so.”

She sat down in the far corner of the swing. When he sat down, she felt strange being this close to him in the darkness, even though they were not touching. A curiously warm, exciting feeling fluttered in her stomach.